What Should You Do if Your Credit Card is Lost or Stolen Abroad

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Losing your credit card while traveling can quickly turn a dream vacation into a nightmare. Whether your card has been stolen or simply misplaced, a missing card puts you at risk for fraud and leaves you scrambling for alternative payment options. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. Follow these steps to protect your finances and get back to enjoying your trip.

Retrace Your Steps

If you may have simply lost your credit card, try to remember the last time you used it. Could you have left it at a bar or restaurant? While attempting to retrieve it quickly might be worthwhile, keep in mind that searching for it could waste valuable time (and increase the risk of fraud) the longer the card remains out of your possession.

Report the Loss Immediately

If you realize your credit card is lost or stolen, contact your card’s issuer immediately. Most major credit card companies have 24/7 international hotlines to assist travelers. You can find these numbers on the back of your credit card, so if you still have another card from the same company, check it out. Otherwise, search online to find the number for your credit card company, but only use the official company’s website to avoid getting fooled by fraudulent websites with wrong numbers used for phishing scams.

Reporting the loss right away reduces the risk of unauthorized transactions and allows the issuer to freeze or cancel the card. Some companies even offer emergency replacements and can deliver a new card to your hotel within 48 hours.

Check Your Transactions

When you call your credit card company to report the missing card, ask to review your recent transactions. If anyone had fraudulently used your card before you noticed it was gone, you can dispute the charges immediately. 

Your credit card company will typically investigate and issue a refund for unauthorized purchases. Many cards also offer zero-liability fraud protection, ensuring you won’t be held responsible for fraudulent transactions.

Use a Backup Payment Method

If your entire wallet is stolen, you may find yourself without access to money to cover expenses until you return home. To avoid this situation, we recommend keeping an emergency credit or debit card in your hotel room—locked in your suitcase or secured in the room safe—so you can still access funds if needed.

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If you don’t have a backup card, check whether your bank allows instant linking of a new card to digital payment options like Apple Pay or Google Wallet. This can provide quick access to your funds without a physical card.

“Your credit card company may also be able to verify your account to your hotel, airline, doctor, or hospital,” says the U.S. State Department of State. “This may mean you can check out of your hotel and get new airline tickets or other emergency services.”

Another option is asking loved ones back home to wire you money. However, keep in mind that you’ll need identification to collect it—so if your passport and driver’s license have also been lost or stolen, this may not be a viable solution.

For U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance, the State Department offers two options:

1. The ability for someone back home to send stranded travelers money through the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
2. Temporary repatriation loans, which can cover transportation, short-term food and lodging costs, and necessary medical expenses.

Update Automatic Payments

Once you receive your new credit card, don’t forget to update any automatic payments that were linked to your old card so you don’t get hit with a late payment fee.

Consider a Credit Freeze

If you’ve lost both your identification and credit cards, you may be at a higher risk of identity theft. To protect yourself, consider placing a credit freeze. This free service won’t affect your credit score but will prevent anyone from opening a new credit account in your name. You’ll need to request a freeze separately from all three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Visit the FTC’s website for step-by-step instructions. Additionally, you can set up a fraud alert, which notifies you if someone attempts to open an account using your information.

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